Suspension of vehicles



G. BROULHIET.

SUSPENSION 0F VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1920.

1,411,159. Patented Mar- 28, 1922.

2 SHEETSSBEET 2.

nll ll IIILII G. BROULHlET. SUSPENSION OF VEHICLES.

APPLICATION HLED'SEPT. I3, 1920. 1 ,41 1 1 59 Patented Ma1'. 28, 1922.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

oneness BROULHIET, or sr. ETIENNE, FRANCE.

SUSPENSION or VEHICLES.

T 0 all whom it may concern. I Be it known that I, Gnonens BRoULHIET,

a citizen of theFrench Republic, residing in St. Etienne, Loire, France; have invented certain new and useful Improvements Pie lating to the Suspension of Vehicles, of

which the following is aspecification.

The invention consists in a suspension system for vehicles, in particular for automo biles, which allows of more easy running by increasing as required the duration of the oscillation of thebodyofthe vehicle about its suspension, until this duration-is sufficient. to make the effort for damping the oscillation negligible. -This result .is attained by providing the vehicles with the usual springs .having the smallest possible friction and also with apparatus for compensating these springs. This apparatus is connected on the one hand with the chassis of the vehicle and on the other hand with the axle; The system is completed by a third member which comprises a screw adapted to adjust the distance through which the chassis approaches or recedes from the axle under the action of a variable load. This member can be'mounted, accord ing'to the construction of the vehicle, either on one of the ends of the suspension springs or on onefof the ends o'fthe compensating apparatus. The member. serves either to adjust the apparatus to the distance between the chassisand-the axle, an adjustment necessitated bythe different amounts by which the springsare flexedfunder the variable load of the vehicle, or to maintain a constant distance between the axle and the chassis by adjusting the tension of the springs, the compensating apparatus having in this latter case a constant height. This member ca11 haveany suitable form of construction,

The accompanying drawings show an example of a construction according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows- .thecompensating apparatus; Fig. 2'is a view of the arrangement, the left hand side being in elevation and the right hand side a section on a men tral line of a spring; Fig. 3 is a plan partly in section on the lines 3'3 of Fig; 2;. Fig. 4 is a side view partly in section on the line 44 of Fig. 2'

The compensating apparatus shown in Fig. l'comprises three essential parts, viz:

a connecting rod a, a rod 6 and a spring 0.

The apparatus is mounted between the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 28, 1922. I Application filed September 13, 1920. Serial in. 410,028. I

chassis and the axle and is connected with them respectively by the end a of the rod 1; and the end I) of the rodb; the -other ends of these rods are connected together. The apparatus can be repeated on the other side of the line A. which is a vertical from the I axis of the vehicle. a The rod a is approximatelyvertical and perpendicular to the rod 1) in the mean position of the apparatus. The springc which I is applied to the junction, of the rods acts with considerable force in the direction of the rod 6 when the vehicle is in the position of stable equilibrium on its suspension; this spring tendsa-lways to compress the rod. 5. The other end 0 ot'the spring is fixed relatively'to the chassis. The rod 6 comprises two parts sliding axially one within the other, so that the rod normally maii1- tains afixed length but can be lengthened if it is drawn out. This extensibility "prevents the joints of the apparatus from being damaged by shocks when the roadimparts to the axle a movement greater than that permitted'by the geometric development of its members. The possible extension of the rod 2) provides a safety arrangement when the inequalities of the road are greater than the travel intended for the apparatus and the spring 0 is fullyrelaxed.

Figs. 2.4 show two. compensatingapparatus as described above disposed symmetrically in relation to a vertical plane passing through theaxis of the vehicle, so as to bal:

ance the lateral thrusts. A casing (Z is also disposed symmetrically with relation to the vertical plane passing through. the axis of the vehicle. 'Within'thefcasing are screws 0 arranged horizontallyand on either side of the central vertical plane of the casing. These screws engage with the internal threads of nuts h fitted in the ends kof a 'bellcrank lever is, j pivoted at Z, the free ends of the arms j being pivoted at mto the ends a ofthe connecting rods a. The lower ends of the rods (1 are provided with side flanges 10, a spring 0 being pivotally attached to the outer flange of each'rod,

the inner flanges being 'pivotallyv connected.

to the rods 6. The inner ends ofthe rodsb are pivotall connected to a yokemember g, which is b0 ted to a lug. 12 on the axle hous- 1.

ing 13 of the .car. I f to thechas'sis member 14. The screw 6 may be rotated by any. suitable means, such s by a reeeh p l t hQ QW QdfiB The casing d is bolted at c of said screw by a flexible shaft of which one end is operated, by the driver of the,

driver of the vehicle'and the oth'e'r'end is secured to the squared endof saidscrew "The casings 0 of the springs 0 are connected by.

impresses on the chassis and on the axle reactions which are transmitted bythe rods (1 in an approximately vertical direction and which form the essential feature of themvention'. 1 a

' The housing of the axle carries with it the yoke g 'and' by its movement relatively to the chassis, causes the rods 2) totake up an inclined position and under the pressure of the'sp'ri'ngs c this inclination sets up com ponents in the rods a, tending to effect the required results. a

The casings o of the springs 0 arerconnected together by a journal 7').

7.1 The same apparatus, as explained above, ,can be used without the regulating screw,

inwhich ease the upper ends of the rods a can be pivoted directly to the rear cross bar of the chassis, and the casing d istransferred to the ends. of the springs "of the vehicle.

A180, theadjustment can be obtained by aranging' a screw Havingthus described the nature'of the said invention and the best means I know ofcarrying I claim r :I I

1. In a system of suspension for vehicles, a rod-preferably. composed of two axially movable parts, one end of said rod being adapted. for connection with the axle of .a veh cle, a connecting rod having one end connected to the other end of said firstname 1 d andits' opposite end provided with means for connectionwith the chassis of a 'vehlcle, said last-named rod being nor mally "substantially perpendicular to "said first-named .-rod,- and a spring acting inthe direction ofthe axis of. said first-named rod for maintaining it in com ression;

a h i igmeans for connection with thehousing'of 'an'axle of a vehicle, a pair adapted tmmaintain the rods in compres' between the axle and the yoke g, the essential ieaturebeing th'at'the' rods b are restored to the direction in which the springs c act as shown in Fig. 2, which the same into practical effect,

sion and other rodsfor pivotallyconnecting said first-named rods in vcompression with the chassis of the 'vehicle. Y

3. Inasystem of suspension for vehicles. a member having means for connection with thehousing of an axle'of a vehicle, a pair of rods pivoted to said member on opposite sides thereof 'so'as" normally to lie in the same horizontal line, a pair of springs adapted to maintain the rods in compresother end of said rod with the chassis oi the vehicle and normally substantially pen pendic'ular to said first-named rod, acasing having means for attachment to the chassis of a vehicle; a bell crank lever pivoted in said casing and having one of its arms connected to said connecting rod, and a;

spring acting in the direction of the axis of said first-named rod and adaptedto maintam 1t'1n compression.

5. In a system of suspens1on for vehicles, a rod preferably composedot two axially movable parts, having one of its ends prov 'vided with means'for attachment to the axle of a vehicle a casing for; attachment to the chassis of the vehicle, a bell crank lever pivoted in said casing, a connecting rod connecting one end of said first-named rod with one arm of said bell crank lever, a nut in the other arm of said lever, a screw fixed in said casing adapted to engage with said nut and rotate said bell crank lever,

and a spring acting in the direction of the axis of the said first-named rod to ma ntain it in compresslon.

, 6. In a's'ystem of suspension for vehicles, a member having means for connectionfwlth the housing of the axle of a vehicle, a pair of rods pivoted to said member on opposite sides thereof so as normally tov lie in the same horizontal line, a pair of springs adapted to maintain the rods in compression, a casing having means for attach- I V ment to the chassis, a pair of bell crank levers pivoted in said casing, a pair of con- DQCtlIlg rods connecting oneend of each of said first-named rodswith one arm of each H p a of said he'll crank levers, a nut in the other *2. In asystem of suspension or vehicles,

arm of each of said levers, and screwls fixed;

in said casingadapt'ed to engage, with said nuts and rotate said bell crank levers.

In testimony whereof]: have signed my name to. this specification. 

